Daytona Beach residents prepare for Dorian, a storm unlike any they've seen in a long time

DAYTONA BEACH — Daytona Beach residents are preparing for the impacts of Hurricane Dorian as the powerful hurricane approaches the east coast.

Parts of Volusia County near the beaches were under mandatory evacuation Monday and bridges will be on lockdown when winds reach 39 mph, according to the Volusia County website.

Some Daytona beach residents are taking advantage of the big waves that Dorian is already bringing to the coast.

Josue Amador, a Daytona beach resident and experienced surfer, grabbed his board Sunday morning and surfed until Monday through some of the largest waves he says he's ever seen on the east coast.

Josue Amador of Daytona looks to surf in the rough water. "This is the best time to surf and you have to take advantage of it", he said. The Daytona Beach area has been put on mandatory evacuation, yet people wanted to see and use the beach one last day. (Photo: Andrea Melendez/The News-Press/USA Today Florida Network)

However, Daytona Beach Ocean Safety officials urged residents on Monday afternoon to return close to shore and even arrested one surfer who refused to comply.

Tammy Malphurs, a public information officer with Daytona Beach Ocean Safety, said local residents and surfers often try to go out in the water during storms. However, she urged beach-goers to stay out of the water during windy storms.

Ignoring beach safety officials can result in a county ordinance violation, she said.

A handful of simmers and surfers were in the water, Monday afternoon, at Daytona Beach. The Beach patrol began asking them to get out of the water. A couple of people were slow to get out of the water then found back in the water further down the beach. They were told to get out of the water or risk being arrested. One of them ended up being arrested. The Daytona Beach area has been put on mandatory evacuation, yet people wanted to see and use the beach one last day. (Photo: Andrea Melendez/The News-Press/USA Today Florida Network)

Amanda Vargas of Deltona, who was enjoying a day at the beach Monday afternoon, said the storm doesn't concern her too much.

Vargas was living in Gainesville during Hurricane Irma and said she is used to storm preparations.

"Some people that have never been through a storm started freaking out a little early," she said. "For regular Florida residents, as long as you're proactive and don't wait until the last minute you should be OK."

Indira Mary Rambhacus of Orlando knelt down on the beach to pray to the Hindu god Ganesha for protection from Dorian and for safety of the Bahamas.

Indira Mary Rambhacus, of Orlando, came to Daytona, Florida, Monday afternoon to pray to Ganesha and ask for protection from Hurricane Dorian. The Daytona Beach area has been put on mandatory evacuation, yet people wanted to see and use the beach one last day. (Photo: Andrea Melendez/The News-Press/USA Today Florida Network)

"I love Daytona Beach," she said. "I pray here all the time. Today I came here so Dorian will go easy on us."

During Hurricane Irma in 2017, she said, her entire neighborhood lost power and she fed the entire neighborhood. She said one day, she boiled 95 eggs for her neighbors.

This time, she said, she will open her home to anyone who needs help.

"Every so often, Mother Nature will cleanse the Earth. Give it a face-lift. That's the circle of life," Rambhacus said. "You let her do her thing, and you and I will do our thing."